seymouk



2 Sheets-Sheet 1."

Patented May 5, 1885.

(No Model.)

J. L. SEYMOUR. CUTTING AND PACKING KINDLING WOOD.

WITNESSES:

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V J. L. SEYMOUR.

CUTTING 'AND PACKING KINDLING WOOD.

N0..317,420.' Patented May 5, 1885.

INVENTOR:

. By his Attorney's; @91

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH L. SEYMOUR, OF NEW YORK, N..Y.

CUTTING AND PACKING KINDLING-WOOD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 317,420, dated May 5,1885.

Application filed July 1, 1ss4. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JosEPH L. SEYMOUR, a citizen of the United States,residing in the city, county, and State of New York, have inventedcertain Improvements in Cutting and Packing Kindling-Wood, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates in part to the mode of cutting or sawing thekindling and in part to a mode of binding the cut blocks, for thepurpose, primarily, of securing all the sticks or elements of akindling-block together, and, secondarily, of securing the blockstogether to form a group or package.

In constructing a kindling-block, a disk, usually about three incheslong, is sawed from the end of a log, and these disks areusually, butnot necessarily, slabbed to form squares, say eight inches on one side.These blocks are then kerfed with saws in parallel lines, the two setsof which cross each other and reduce the block to sticks or billets.Sometimes the kerfs do not extend quite through the block,

and the billets are held together by a stub, so that they may be easilybroken apart, and sometimes they are kerfed from both ends. Now, it isdesirable to keep the block unbroken until the kindling is sold to theconsumer; but if the stub is made so weak that the billets can be easilybroken off with the fingers, then the blocks are apt to break inhandling and transportation; and this difficulty is further enhanced bythe natural checking of the stub in drying. If the billets be entirelyseparated by the saw and a string be tied around the block, the centralbillets will work out and the block go to pieces. It is also desirableto pack severalblocks, say six, in a bundle, and this cannot well bedone economically with the present modes of cutting.

My object is to obviate these difficulties by providing a block that maybe shipped and handled, either singly or in packages, without danger ofits breaking or falling to pieces, and at the same time provide a blockthat can be easily broken up by the fingers for use. My preferred modeof cutting or kerfing also prevents the middle billets from working out,and gives to them a form that is of great advantage in kindling a fire.

In the drawings which serve to illustrate my invention, Figure 1represents a block in which the billets are entirely separated by myimproved cut, and held together by my improved binding. Fig. 2 shows oneof the billets detached from the block. Fig. 3 represents a .block withmy improved cut, wherein the billets are not quite separated. Fig. 4represents a block with the billets separated by a slightly modifiedform of my cut. Figs. 5, 6, and 7 represent blocks with different cutsor kerfings, to which my improved binding is applied. Fig. 8 illustratesthe mode of securing three or more blocks together endwise by mybinding. Fig. 9 illustrates the mode of binding the blocks together,both endwise and edgewise, by my binding. Fig. 10 illustrates theapplication of my cut and binding to a round block, and Fig. 11illustrates a modification which will be hereinafter described.

Referring to Fig. l, the cut or kerfing is effected by sawing into theblock A obliquely, from opposite ends in parallel lines, the two sets ofkerfs crossing each other, as shown. The kerfs meet from opposite sidesand sepa rate the billets a, one of which is shown detached'in Fig. 2.WVhen this block is bound together at its periphery, it is obvious thatthe angular billets at the center cannot fall or work out; and as thesebillets will not pack closely when thrown together promiscuously, it isobvious that this crooked form enhances their value as a kindling. It isnot necessary that the kerfs be equally spaced; indeed, I prefer tospace them irregularly, as shown, so as to make some of the billetslarger than the others.

In order to bind the block A together, so that it may be handled andsold as a unit, and pack closely for transportation, I provide the blockwith kerfs b 1), near its four sides or margins, and press into thesekerfs binding strips or laths 0 c, of thin wood, one of which isrepresented in Fig. 2 detached. The kerfs are deep enough by preferenceto permit these four strips to cross where the kerfs cross. These stripshold the elements of the block together with sufficient firmness topermit of the rough handling they will receive, but they may be easilypulled to pieces by the user. The kerfs b are cut obliquely, simply as aconvenience, the kerfing'saws being on the same mandrel as the othersaws, and this obliquity of the binding-kerfs has no disadvantages wherethe blocks are not to be bound together endwise, as will be hereinafterexplained.

Fig. 3 shows the same cut and binding as Fig. 1, except that the kerfsdo not quite meet and the billets are not separated.

Fig. 4 shows the same cut and binding as Fig. 1, except that the kerfsfrom one end of the block are not oblique. Instead of making thesestraight kerfs by sawing, the billets may be split apart with the grainin the manufacture.

Fig. 5 shows the binding applied to a block with straight kerfs, whichpass nearly through the block, leaving only a short stub. Thebinding-kerfs do not extend down so deep as the others, as the wedgingof the bindingstrips would in that case be apt to split off the outerrow of billets.

Fig. 6 shows the binding applied to a block with straight kerfsextending in from both ends of the block. The shallower kerfs do notregister with the deeper kerfs, and serve to prevent the block fromchecking, as well as to facilitate the separation of the billets. Thebinding-strips occupy the exterior kerfs.

Fig. 7 shows a block similar to that seen in Fig. 5, but thebinding-kerfs are cut obliquely in the edges of the block.

Fig. 8 shows three blocks having the cut seen in Fig. 6 secured to eachother, end to end, by binding-strips which take or extend into eachblock. The ordinary binding-strips are employed to hold the elements ofeach block together.

Fig. 9 shows four blocks having the cut seen in Fig. 5 bound together,end to end and edge to edge.

These two examplesFigs. 8 and 9sufliciently illustrate how six, or evenmore, blocks may be secured together by long bindingstrips. As the kerfsin the blocks having like cuts will register, it is easy to see how thestrip or strips may be passed through several blocks.

Fig. 10 shows a round block, unslabbed, provided with my oblique cut, asin Fig. 1, but having the binding-kerfs cut at right angles to its end.This may be effected by simply extending the slab-kerfs down part way inthe block.

Fig. 11 shows a billet from a block having a out similar to that shownin Figs. 1, 2, and 3, except that only one set of cuts or kerfs is madeoblique to the ends of the block, the other set, which crosses thefirst, being straight or at right angles to the end of the block. Thisproduces crooked or angular billets, but they have two straight sides.Such billets may be formed by cutting the block entirely through, or butpart way through, as described with reference to other cuts. I have notconsidered it necessary to show the entire block.

I do not usually find it necessary to employ binding-kerfs in any butthe marginal rows of billets, but I may cut kerfs in any or all of thebillets, or rows of billets, anduse any number of bin ding-strips or,where the billets are not wholly separated, I mayinsert bindingstrips inany or all of the kerfs, and at one or both ends of the blocks, andthese strips may be round, square, or flat.

I am aware that the bindingkerfs in such blocks may be formed in variousways, and I do not limit myself to the several ways shown. For example,the central rows of kerfs in the blocks shown in Figs. 8 and 9 might beused for binding-strips to secure the several blocks together, while themarginal kerfs are utilized only to receive the strips which bind thebillets of the block together.

When the blocks are sawed and kerfed, they are usually green. Thebinding-strips are inserted and the blocks then dried in kilns. Thiscauses the blocks to shrink on and hold the strips firmly.

The object in squaring the block is, mainly, that it may pack closelyfor transportation, and the slabs can be utilized for fuel at the mill.

I wish it understood that while I usually bind together the elementsfrom one block, yet my method of binding may as well be adapted forbinding together separatelyformed billets assembled together in anyshape and properly kerfed to receive the binding-strips. The block thusformed, or however formed, need not nectssarily be square; it mightbelong and narrow, for example, or of other shapes; and the sets ofkerfs need not cross each other at right angles. For example, the blockmight be diamond-shaped and the kerfs might cross obliquely but parallelwith its sides. The binding-strips might also be of other shapes andother materials than those described.

I wish to call attention to the fact that my kindling-block differs frommost others in that it is not designed for use as a unit, but isintended to be pulled to pieces and its billets used as ordinarykindling-billets are used. I know, of course, that various forms ofangular kerfings have been employed in kindling billets or blocks; but,so far as I am aware, none of these have produced a crooked or bentbillet, like that illustrated in Fig. 2, capable of interlocking withadjacent billets of the same shape. 1

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. A kindling-block whereinthe billets are separated by saw-kerfs which impart a crooked or bentform to the billets, as shown, whereby the interior or central billetsare made to interlock so that they cannot work out, substantially as setforth.

2. Akindling-block having two sets of parallel cuts or kerfs in eachend, which sets cross each other, as set forth, and each set of cuts orkerfs are made oblique to the grain or ends of the block, whereby thebillets are given a crooked shape, as shown, for the purposes set forth.

3. A kindling-block wherein the billets are formed by oblique cuts orkerfs, substantially as described, and the whole secured together Inwitness whereof I have hereunto signed by binding strips or lathsinserted in kerfs in my name in the presence of two subscribing 10 themarginal rows of billets, substantially as witnesses.

and for the purposes set forth. JOSEPH L. SEYMOUR. 5 4. Theherein-described method of binding Witnesses:

together the billets of a kindling block or bun- HENRY GONNETT,

dle, which consists in sawing or cuttingkerfs in GEO. BRINTON.

the ends of the same and inserting in the said kerfs strips or laths,substantially as set forth.

